updated 09:55 am EST, Tue January 19, 2010

Sony to call PS3 Motion Controller the Arc?

Sony will reportedly call its motion controller Arc, according to a Tuesday VG247report. The source of this information wishes to remain anonymous and makes the previous believed name for the system obsolete. Earlier, the system was believed to be called Gem, which was apparently an older internal codename as revealed by EA CEO John Riccittiello and now admitted by Sony.

Thus far officially known as the Motion Controller, the system will be out later this year, with global boss Kaz Hirai previously claiming a March date, at least for Japan.

The Motion Controller uses a wand-like pad with the familiar PlayStation buttons and a trigger. It also gets the same force feedback technology from current DualShock 3 controllers and will use a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The PS Eye will play a role, tracking the orb to gauge a user's movements and distance. An accelerometer and gyroscope will determine the wand's angle and movement.

Microsoft is working on its own version of a full body controller, called Project Natal and due for the holidays.